Clairey, some pairs just bicker. Snick and Ouiser were very loudly conversational their whole life together, but I don't at all believe they weren't perfectly happy together. Well, Snick was happy, and Ouiser would have preferred that he pick up his socks and help out with folding things. But you know what I mean.

I bet some pigs could be trained to use a flap door thing. Simon likes to nose the kitchen door open when I'm in there so he can remind me that he's (always) hungry.

All of my pigs have each had a particular way they like to be petted and I've finally found Simon's. He likes a light, circular massage down his spine. I coaxed a purr out of him as he melted into the floor. :) Graham has a big tuft of hair right below his shoulder blades that's like his on/off switch. It's super-sensitive to touch and makes him twitchy if I brush past it but if I work it down flat with my fingers, he gets all dopey.

We have progress! It's not snuggling but until a few days ago they couldn't possibly lie this close for much more than a couple of minutes. Either Graham would flash teeth or Simon would retreat before he had the chance. At the moment they've been snoozing like this for a good 45 minutes and it's becoming normal.

And pellets can once more be served in a bowl without anyone being threatened or bullied.

They feel a lot more balanced now as a pair. :) Graham is still a twit but Simon seems to be growing to quite enjoy him.

Oh he so does! He also got a bit carried away with suddenly finding himself the top pig and his very top pig-ness had to be reinforced at every and all opportunity. I can't praise Simon enough for not rising to the constant bait. There were times I felt Simon was being really bullied but then he would sprawl out and nap somewhere that a wary or harrassed pig just wouldn't, eg. the middle of the cage or the favoured bed.

I miss my Stephen and Bobbins so much still. Suddenly having 2 pigs I don't know that well (and that aren't old enough to not know themselves very well either!) has been strange and quite frustrating at times.

However, G-Force and Agent Orange have brought a lot of fun and energy to the place too. They tease each other then zoom and popcorn around the room. It's like Simon is learning all this social stuff (slowly) for the first time. They do seem to have an agreement about time out though. I've noticed that when the chasing gets too much, Simon will dive into a corner of the hay bin or a bed and stand his ground with a rumble and some whining. Graham backs down then. It's not a threatening stand off, more like 'free den' or 'home' when you're playing tag. Seeing that they have some order to their romping (and it's not all Graham simply steam-rollering Simon) was such a relief.

ETA: Simon is sporting a bald stripe down his dewlap just now. It's been a while so I panicked at first but it can only be a boar glue mishap. Both pigs only finished mite treatment a couple of weeks ago and there's no broken or flaky skin, just a neat totally bald bit.

Bobbins did not grace us with his presence long enough, clairey. That is an undisputed cosmic fact.

I remember when his med thread first popped up over in the emergency forum and I discovered your chronicle. Reading back through it all, it seems more a matter of months than years since that little boar sashayed into all our hearts and plopped himself down there.

Meanwhile, just love, love, love the photo of Mr Graham crashed out in the hay box.

I know. Sadly it's that time of year where Scottish 'dayight' is merely a slightly lighter grey than 'dark' and rarely comes inside far enough to make decent pics possible and flash kills the moment. I'll try.

I need to try to capture them begging at the side of the cage. Simon's head tilt gets more exaggerated the higher he holds his head from the ground. Because of this, I've never encouraged him to get up on his back legs. However Graham is a master beggar and Simon decided to copy him.

If Simon were to stand square like 'normal' pigs with both front feet up on the grids, his head is so tilted to the left that his mouth ends up not where it needs to be. So he's devised a method which involves him facing slightly to the right with only his left paw on the grids so his face ends up pointed at me. It's not a sturdy position therefore much jostling takes place first to make sure he's close enough to Graham to lean on him for balance. Initially this upset Graham no end (and tipped him over at least once too) but he's gotten used to it. :)